Issue #18: Veganism 101: all you need to know about it

April 30, 2026

Hello everybody! My name is Cadence. You may know me as Dam’s best friend, as a singer and songwriter, or as a hardcore Avril Lavigne fan. But here’s something you probably didn’t know about me: I have been vegan since I was 13, all the way back in 2019. I’m 20 now. So I thought, why not write an issue about this topic? It could be fun!

As with everything, being vegan has its pros and cons. On the positive side, we have the ethical factor: if you're a sensitive, empathetic person, you'll feel less guilty and at peace when you eat your food. Also, the environmental aspect of it: a plant-based diet has a significantly lower carbon footprint than one that includes animal products. Here's a fun (or not so fun) fact: a single beef hamburger requires approximately 2,500 liters of water to produce. That's about the same as showering every day for two months, all for one burger. This water goes into growing the plants that feed the cattle, the water the animals drink throughout their lives, and the water used during processing. 

Being vegan comes with its battles, though. Eating out can be tricky, since in most places, vegan options can be limited, or none at all. Social situations, like a birthday party, can sometimes feel awkward when you're the only one not eating what everyone else is having. Nutritionally, you also have to be more intentional about getting enough protein, iron and B12, which means taking supplements. The good news is that most of these supplements are available at any pharmacy and they are taken as a daily pill!

• Veganism, vegetarianism, pescetarianism the differences

These three are often confused, so let's clear it up.

Vegetarians don't eat meat or fish, but they do consume animal by-products like milk, cheese and eggs. Vegetarianism is the oldest of the three by far, it was common in ancient Indian and Buddhist cultures. 

Pescetarians follow a similar diet to vegetarians, but they do eat fish and seafood. Pescetarianism doesn't have a clear origin, but eating fish while avoiding meat has been practiced for centuries in various cultures and religions, like Catholicism.

Veganism is the most restrictive of the three: vegans avoid all animal products, not just in their food but often in other aspects as well, like cosmetics, products and fashion. Veganism is the newest of the three. The term came to life in 1944 by Donald Watson, a British man who founded the Vegan Society.

• How is life like being vegan

I won't sugarcoat it: at first, it's hard. You're at the supermarket looking like a fool, reading every single ingredient label, figuring out what you can and can't eat.

But after a while, it starts to feel natural. You begin to value food even more than you did before, because now, you're so careful about it. For me, I stopped feeling guilty and I feel better about myself, too. And nowadays, there are so many vegan options so it's easier to be vegan!

The social aspect is probably the most challenging part in the long run. Not because people are always mean (even though they do come up with those weird questions like "what if you were on a deserted island and there was only bacon..."); but since food is so tied to culture and connection, being vegan makes you feel a little like an outsider, sometimes. 

[I once got Cadence candy from my country. I forgot that she was vegan so out of all the candy I sent her, she could only eat one type of it. My bad. - Dam]

• Common misconceptions

"Vegans don't get enough protein."

This is probably the most common one. But the truth is, there are plenty of plant-based protein sources like chickpeas, tofu, tempeh or quinoa.

"Vegan food is not tasty and it’s boring."

Honestly, becoming vegan made me a much more adventurous eater. It made me try out food or ingredients that I never would have discovered otherwise. Like falafel, for example, I didn't even know they existed before going vegan, and now I'm obsessed with them.

"It's too expensive."

It can be, if you're buying a lot of processed vegan products. But products like rice, beans and seasonal vegetables are some of the most affordable foods out there. Are you forgetting that plants exist?

"One person can't make a difference."

It might feel small, but it's not nothing. 

Anyways, is it worth it? Yes. Definitely. Oh god, yes. As I said before, I've been vegan since 2019 and I don't even remember what life was like before that. However, just because it feels right for me, it doesn't mean it'll feel right for you. Do I wish more people were vegan? Yeah, but I can't force anyone. That's not something for me to decide. It’s your choice.

Cadence